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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "huge amount of money" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "cotonou" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- smith-kujor@accountant.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: "MR SMITH KUJOR" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <smith-kujor@accountant.com>
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2017 15:26:38 -0700
Subject: BUSINES INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP.
I am Mr smit Kujor from Cotonou a french country here in west Africa I am contacting you for assistance how to help me to invest my late boss fund from USA that was died in fire accident at our office in aflao in Togo that was kept with the security vault sum of $70.5MILLION USD cash contain in the box here in Cotonou west Africa and I'm intention to invest in your country with this money for profitable investment and real estate housing business over there,I will offer you 35% from this total money for your concern to be the beneficiary of the money and for your time to arrive to cotonou as owner because why i contact you is that i need to invest in your vcountry with this huge amount of money. If you are interested the following details will be needed.
I will need your full particular information with your scan passport for securing the BENEFICIARY ID CARD to submit on your behalf to the security vault as the real owner of the box of the money in their custody before your arrival to Cotonou to meet me face to face for final transaction.
I will be very glad if you keep this transaction highly confidential. Awaiting your quick reply.
Mr Smith Kujor
Telephone + 229 999 6437
Email: smith-kujor@accountant.com
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